How to Make Money During the LED Revolution

According to the Bible, "God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Not long ago, Congress said, "Let there be no incandescent light of 100-watt capacity or more beyond 2012." Fortunately, this time, LED light is here to assist.
With demand for energy-saving devices going up, LEDs -- or light-emitting diodes -- might just be the next leading light of the market. For the Foolish investor, this could be a good opportunity to add some brightness to your portfolio.Death of incandescence
Death of incandescenceA law passed in 2007 by Congress stipulates that bulbs that produce 100 watts' worth of lighting need to meet certain efficiency guidelines beginning in 2012. Since most incandescent bulbs do not meet the prescribed guidelines, many of them face a production or import ban starting in just a few months. By 2014, a similarly tough fate will be met by bulbs producing 40 watts' worth of light. Most lighting companies have, therefore, shifted their focus to alternative lighting technologies.  
As the traditional incandescent light bulb starts to make an overdue exit, LED bulbs are likely to see the tide slowly turning in their favor. The path ahead isn't easy, though.
Technologies like the compact fluorescent light, or CFLs, are probably the most obvious choice after incandescent bulbs, in terms of costs and adaptability. But the disadvantages of CFLs include a shorter life span and slightly higher cost of usage than LEDs. The CFL's lifespan declines more in daily home usage where one needs to switch them on and off frequently. Clearly, there's an opportunity here.
LED by exampleAmong the movers and shakers of the lighting world, Philips (NYSE: PHG  ) is making some of the first waves in the LED market. At the LightFair lighting conference, Philips unveiled the EnduraLED A21 which uses only 17 watts of power but glows like a 75 watt bulb. The EnduraLED A21, when released, will be the first of its kind to achieve such a feat. This bulb could save electricity bills and the planet at the same time. According to Philips, one can plausibly generate a lifetime savings of $160 on power bills and reduced carbon emissions due to reduced energy consumption using these bulbs.
General Electric (NYSE: GE  ) is also ready for the battle of the bulbs. It's currently showcasing its LED Edge lighting fixtures. Some of the fixtures are slated to make their appearance later this year, while others will make their appearance in the first half of next year. According to GE, these lights will have longer lives in addition to lower power consumption than incandescent bulbs. The fixtures would also include a textured optical screen made by Rambus (Nasdaq: RMBS  ) , a company more well known for its patent-expertise in the computer memory market.
Chip on the shoulderApart from Rambus, several other chip makers are also looking to get a piece of the LED pie. One of them is Marvell Technology (Nasdaq: MRVL  ) , which is going to introduce a chip that might increase lighting quality in addition to putting the lights on a network. Embedded Marvell chips in LED lights can allow users to control lights centrally and set schedules.
Finally, Cree (Nasdaq: CREE  ) might be the most well-known stock to investors interested in LED lighting. Despite some recent struggles, the company is one of the best pure-plays on a LED-lighting driven future. The company recently introduced an LED light that is primarily seen as a replacement of the 60-watt bulb that is aimed at the mass market. Office lighting is also on its radar.
Light of the Fool's eyesWhile LED technology is all new and hot and has the potential to become the next big deal in green energy, there are some rough patches on the road ahead. Much like many other green technologies, LED tech has high upfront costs. Although LEDs come with long-term benefits like lower power bills, the high initial price might put off certain buyers.
Currently, the market also has several other competing technologies like CFLs and organic LEDs. But even with the OLEDs, the inhibitor for buyers is the price. Cutting costs on the technology should be the priority for the industry right now before it thinks of brisk business and wide integration.
For the Foolish investor, investing in different companies with LED exposure could offer good growth opportunities during the coming years. While the next best thing to the incandescent bulbs might be CFL, its reduced longevity in daily usage and less efficiency than the LED is most likely going to give way to the LED as the lighting for the future.
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